Forty-five dental students and 24 dental hygiene students recently signed pledges committing themselves to a higher level of professional responsibility as they begin their clinical experiences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry.
The college’s annual Clinic Transition Ceremony took place Dec. 2 at the UNMC College of Dentistry in Lincoln during which students were called up one-by-one to sign a pledge and put on the new blue coat they will wear while working with patients.
John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of the college, said the ceremony was a celebration of the students’ transition into patient care as well as an opportunity to stress the importance of professionalism — including appearance, ethical behavior, honesty and compassion — in caring for the needs of patients.
Hometowns and names of the students are listed below.
Dental students
Aurora: Jamie Schwaninger
Jamie Schwaninger
Bayard: Matthew Coon
Matthew Coon
Beatrice: Holly Portwood
Holly Portwood
Benedict: Joshua Larkin
Joshua Larkin
Byron: Tracy Garcia
Tracy Garcia
Columbus: Rebecca Ronkar
Rebecca Ronkar
Fremont: Jamie Dirkschneider, Adam Lamprecht
Jamie Dirkschneider, Adam Lamprecht
Holdrege: Hayley Rehm, Loren Sites
Hayley Rehm, Loren Sites
Juniata: Amanda Jensen
Amanda Jensen
Kearney: Brett Carranza, Jarrod McAlevy,
Brett Carranza, Jarrod McAlevy,
Lincoln: Travis Watson, Benjamin Britten, Rebecca Krueger
Travis Watson, Benjamin Britten, Rebecca Krueger
Nebraska City: Steven Wirth
Steven Wirth
North Platte: Thomas Pratt
Thomas Pratt
Omaha: Pota Rakes, Patrick McIntosh, James O’Brien,
Pota Rakes, Patrick McIntosh, James O’Brien,
Plainview: Jay Bernecker
Jay Bernecker
Scottsbluff: Nathan Green, Brandon Pieper
Nathan Green, Brandon Pieper
Seward: Benjamin Anderson, Jesse Carr
Benjamin Anderson, Jesse Carr
Stromsburg: Christopher Wieseman
Christopher Wieseman
Wayne: Elizabeth Campbell, Kallie Krugman
Elizabeth Campbell, Kallie Krugman
Bismarck, N.D.: Michael Turman
Michael Turman
Colorado Springs, Colo.: Mark George
Mark George
Elk Point, S.D.: Angela Curry
Angela Curry
Honolulu, Hawaii: Cherie Uchida, Renee Uchida
Cherie Uchida, Renee Uchida
Huron, S.D.: Kelli Jobman
Kelli Jobman
Iroquois, S.D.: Jesse Fast
Jesse Fast
Kanopolis, Kan.: Claire Stroede,
Claire Stroede,
Lakewood, Colo.: Mark Auble
Mark Auble
Lisbon, N.D.: Amy Scepaniak
Amy Scepaniak
Preston, Idaho: Justin Carter
Justin Carter
Rapid City, S.D.: Kate Haave
Kate Haave
Sandy, Utah: David Page
David Page
Sioux Fallls, S.D.: Andrew Wiswall
Andrew Wiswall
Torrington, Wyo.: Troy Knaub
Troy Knaub
Watertown, S.D.: Robert VanLaecken
Robert VanLaecken
Dental Hygiene students
● Ainsworth: Lanay E. Carr
Alliance: Gabrielle K. Hoffman
Gabrielle K. Hoffman
● Axtell: Linsey J. Dobson
Coleridge: Courtney L. Krei
Courtney L. Krei
Columbus: Kala J. Koopman, Karen K. Thomas
Kala J. Koopman, Karen K. Thomas
Fremont: Amy J. Anderson, Danielle R. Spicka
Amy J. Anderson, Danielle R. Spicka
Gothenburg: Kristen A. Yilk, Megan C. Edson
Kristen A. Yilk, Megan C. Edson
Hershey: Taylor A. Dorr
Taylor A. Dorr
Lincoln: Erin E. Myers, Deanna L. Trujillo
Erin E. Myers, Deanna L. Trujillo
Loup City: Audrey P. Kusek
Audrey P. Kusek
Milford: Taneil A. Aschoff, Tiffani A. Aschoff
Taneil A. Aschoff, Tiffani A. Aschoff
● Mitchell: Abby S. Hiegel
Morse Bluff: Jade M. Schmidt
Jade M. Schmidt
Omaha: Ann M. Johanek
Ann M. Johanek
Schuyler: Lindsay K Weber
Lindsay K Weber
Sutherland: Chelsea J. Cunning
Chelsea J. Cunning
Tecumseh: Stacy A. Carmine
Stacy A. Carmine
Hills, Minn.: Brittney L. Olson
Brittney L. Olson
● Holcomb, Kan.: Sarah L. Pittman
(● Indicates the student is enrolled in the UNMC College of Dentistry’s West Division Program in Gering, Neb.)